Re-enter MEPHISTOPHILIS with Devils, who give crowns and rich apparel to FAUSTUS, dance, and depart.

[Exit.]

Re-enter MEPHISTOPHILIS with a Devil dressed like a woman, with fireworks.

[Turns to them.]

[Turns to them.]

[Turns to them. Exeunt.]

FAUSTUS.

Now, Faustus, mustThou needs be damned, and canst thou not be saved:What boots it then to think of God or heaven?Away with such vain fancies, and despair:Despair in God, and trust in Belzebub;(5)Now go not backward: no, Faustus, be resolute:Why waver'st thou? O, something soundeth in mineears“Abjure this magic, turn to God again!”Ay, and Faustus will turn to God again.(10)To God?——He loves thee not—The god thou serv'st is thine own appetite,Wherein is fixed the love of Belzebub;To him I'll build an altar and a church,And offer lukewarm blood of new-born babes.(15)

GOOD ANGEL.

Sweet Faustus, leave that execrable art.

FAUSTUS.

Contrition, prayer, repentance! What of them?

GOOD ANGEL.

O, they are means to bring thee untoHeaven!

EVIL ANGEL.

Rather illusions—fruits of lunacy,(20)That makes men foolish that do trust them most.

That I shall wait on Faustus whilst he lives,So he will buy my service with his soul.(35)

FAUSTUS.

Already Faustus hath hazarded that for thee.

MEPHIST.

But, Faustus, thou must bequeath it solemnly,And write a deed of gift with thine own blood,For that security craves great Lucifer.If thou deny it, I will back to hell.(40)

FAUSTUS.

Stay, Mephistophilis! and tell me what goodWill my soul do thy lord?

MEPHIST.

Enlarge his kingdom.

FAUSTUS.

Is that the reason why he tempts us thus?

MEPHIST.

Solamen miseris socios habuisse doloris.(45)

FAUSTUS.

Why, have you any pain that tortures others?

MEPHIST.

As great as have the human souls of men.But tell me, Faustus, shall I have thy soul?And I will be thy slave, and wait on thee,And give thee more than thou hast wit to ask.(50)

FAUSTUS.

Ay, Mephistophilis, I give it thee.

MEPHIST.

Then, Faustus, stab thine arm courageouslyAnd bind thy soul that at some certain dayGreat Lucifer may claim it as his own;And then be thou as great as Lucifer.(55)

FAUSTUS.

[Stabbing his arm.] Lo, Mephistophilis, for love ofthee,I cut mine arm, and with my proper bloodAssure my soul to be great Lucifer's,Chief lord and regent of perpetual night!(60)View here the blood that trickles from mine arm,And let it be propitious for my wish.

MEPHIST.

But, Faustus, thou mustWrite it in manner of a deed of gift.

FAUSTUS.

Ay, so I will. [Writes.] But, Mephistophilis,(65)My blood congeals, and I can write no more.

MEPHIST.

I'll fetch thee fire to dissolve it straight.

FAUSTUS.

What might the staying of my blood portend?Is it unwilling I should write this bill?Why streams it not, that I may write afresh?(70)Faustus gives to thee his soul. Ah, there it stayed!Why should'st thou not? Is not thy soul thine own?Then write again, Faustus gives to thee his soul.

MEPHIST.

Here's fire. Come, Faustus, set it on.

FAUSTUS.

So now the blood begins to clear again;(75)Now will I make an end immediately.

MEPHIST.

O, what will not I do to obtain his soul?

FAUSTUS.

Consummatum est: this bill is ended,And Faustus hath bequeathed his soul to Lucifer.But what is this inscription on mine arm?(80)Homo, fuge! Whither should I fly?If unto God, he'll throw me down to hell.My senses are deceived; here's nothing writ:—I see it plain; here in this place is writHomo, fuge! Yet shall not Faustus fly.(85)

MEPHIST.

I'll fetch him somewhat to delight his mind.

FAUSTUS.

Speak, Mephistophilis, what means this show?

MEPHIST.

Nothing, Faustus, but to delight thy mindwithal,And to show thee what magic can perform.(90)

FAUSTUS.

But may I raise up spirits when I please?

MEPHIST.

Ay, Faustus, and do greater things than these.

FAUSTUS.

Then there's enough for a thousand souls.Here, Mephistophilis, receive this scroll,A deed of gift of body and of soul:(95)But yet conditionally that thou performAll articles prescribed between us both.

MEPHIST.

Faustus, I swear by hell and LuciferTo effect all promises between us made.

FAUSTUS.

Then hear me read them: On these conditions(100)following. First, that Faustus may be a spirit in form andsubstance. Secondly, that Mephistophilis shall be his ser-vant, and at his command. Thirdly, that Mephistophilis shalldo for him and bring him whatsoever he desires. Fourthly,that he shall be in his chamber or house invisible. Lastly,(105)that he shall appear to the said John Faustus, at all times,and in what form or shape soever he pleases. I, John Faustus,of Wertenberg, Doctor, by these presents do give both bodyand soul to Lucifer, Prince of the East, and his minister,Mephistophilis: and furthermore grant unto them, that(110)twenty-four years being expired, the articles above-writteninviolate, full power to fetch or carry the said John Faustus,body and soul, flesh, blood, or goods, into their habitationwheresoever. By me, John Faustus.

MEPHIST.

Speak, Faustus, do you deliver this as your deed?(115)

FAUSTUS.

Ay, take it, and the Devil give thee good on't!

MEPHIST.

Now, Faustus, ask what thou wilt.

FAUSTUS.

First will I question with thee about hell.Tell me where is the place that men call hell?

MEPHIST.

Under the heavens.(120)

FAUSTUS.

Ay, but whereabout?

MEPHIST.

Within the bowels of these elements,Where we are tortured and remain for ever;Hell hath no limits, nor is circumscribedIn one self place; for where we are is hell,(125)And where hell is there must we ever be:And, to conclude, when all the world dissolves,And every creature shall be purified,All places shall be hell that is not Heaven.

FAUSTUS.

Come, I think hell's a fable.(130)

MEPHIST.

Ay, think so still, till experience change thy mind.

FAUSTUS.

Why, think'st thou, then, that Faustus shall bedamned?

MEPHIST.

Ay, of necessity, for here's the scrollWherein thou hast given thy soul to Lucifer.(135)

FAUSTUS.

Ay, and body too; but what of that?Think'st thou that Faustus is so fond to imagineThat, after this life, there is any pain?Tush; these are trifles and mere old wives' tales.

MEPHIST.

But, Faustus, I am an instance to prove the(140)contrary,For I am damned, and am now in hell.

FAUSTUS.

How! now in hell?Nay, an this be hell, I'll willingly be damned here;What? walking, disputing, &c.?(145)But, leaving off this, let me have a wife,The fairest maid in Germany;For I am wanton and lascivious,And cannot live without a wife.

MEPHIST.

How—a wife?(150)I prithee, Faustus, talk not of a wife.

FAUSTUS.

Nay, sweet Mephistophilis, fetch me one, for Iwill have one.

MEPHIST.

Well—thou wilt have one? Sit there till I come:I'll fetch thee a wife in the Devil's name.(155)

MEPHIST.

Tell me, Faustus, how dost thou like thy wife?

FAUSTUS.

A plague on her for a hot whore!

MEPHIST.

Tut, Faustus,Marriage is but a ceremonial toy;If thou lovest me, think no more of it.(160)I'll cull thee out the fairest courtesans,And bring them every morning to thy bed;She whom thine eye shall like, thy heart shall have,Be she as chaste as was Penelope,As wise as Saba, or as beautiful(165)As was bright Lucifer before his fall.Here, take this book, peruse it thoroughly:The iterating of these lines brings gold;The framing of this circle on the groundBrings whirlwinds, tempests, thunder and lightning;(170)Pronounce this thrice devoutly to thyself,And men in armour shall appear to thee,Ready to execute what thou desir'st.

[Gives a book.]

FAUSTUS.

Thanks, Mephistophilis: yet fain would I have abook wherein I might behold all spells and incantations,(175)that I might raise up spirits when I please.

MEPHIST.

Here they are, in this book.

FAUSTUS.

Now would I have a book where I might see allcharacters and planets of the heavens, that I might knowtheir motions and dispositions.(180)

MEPHIST.

Here they are too.

FAUSTUS.

Nay, let me have one book more,—and then I havedone,—wherein I might see all plants, herbs, and trees,that grow upon the earth.